Welcome
to the Family Room
I'm your host, call me Adnan

I was born in Nablus, Palestine, many years ago,
and graduated from the American University of Beirut in
Business Administration and Economics.
I spent most of my working life with the United Nations,
mainly  FAO in Rome,
but also with other U.N. specialized agencies:
United Nations Office, Geneva
UNESCO. Paris
UNIDO, Vienna
IFAD, Rome
I.M.O, London
and the World Bank, Washington D.C.
I finally retired completely in 1998

My Father's name was Fayeq, son of Fareed, son of Muhammad, son of Ibrahim, son of Omar.
This is as far as the family tree,  being created now goes.
We were four brothers,  Myself, the eldest,  Munzer (d. 1990), Hani and Wael and two girls: Hanan and Najat.

I am a proud father of three young men, Anan, Riyad and Ayman,
and a proud grandfather of seven.

This is Maria Luisa, my spouse, my partner and my friend,
born in Trento,  north Italy, not many years ago.
Graduated in Philosophy, and interested in Spiritual studies.

And this is our cat, Pashapau. with his girl friend Popcorn.
Pashapau spends most of his time sleeping, and when he is awake, he is either eating or hunting.
I must say he masters both activities and guards his territorial rights religiously.
Unfortunately he managed to drive away a nightingale who had been residing in our Garden
and was filling the air with his beautiful songs. He almost talked to me when I tried to imitate his singing.
I called him Ziryab, after the great singer / musician who came from Baghdad to Cordoba
and was soon to become one of the most prominent figures not only at the Caliph's palace but in the whole country.

Now let's go to the Arab Room and have a coffee.

 

This is our favorite corner, where we like to entertain our friends
and where I go sometimes when I feel nostalgic for my homeland.
There is always a promise of serenity and peace there.
I read there sometimes, and once in a while I go there and play the oud (lute).

That door behind you takes you to the garden.
There is an Arab type fountain just outside the door.
Sitting inside, you can see it and hear the water splashing into the basin.
There is something about the sound of water that is hypnotic.
Like most Arabs, the sight of water or its sound sends thrilling sensations through my system.
Our love for water goes a long way back, and is probably related to the historic scarcity of water in our lands.

Once out, you are greeted by lovely flowers.

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